Touch apparatus

ABSTRACT

A touch apparatus includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes, a plurality of second sensing electrodes, and a plurality of third sensing electrodes. The first sensing electrodes extend along a first direction. The second sensing electrodes are electrically isolated from the first sensing electrodes, and extend along a second direction. The plurality of third sensing electrodes are electrically isolated from the second sensing electrodes, and extend along the first direction. At least some of the first sensing electrodes, at least some of the second sensing electrodes, and at least some of the third sensing electrodes are formed at different film layers respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 106104710, filed on Feb. 14, 2017. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates an electronic apparatus, and particular toa touch apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

A touch apparatus plays an important role no matter in a mobile phone, atablet computer, or a notebook computer. Gradually, use of the touchapparatus is updated from touching by a finger to an active stylus. Theactive stylus includes a lot of technologies, and mainly may be dividedinto electromagnet-type and capacitive technologies. A capacitive stylusneeds an independent electromagnetic induction plate, and is uniquebecause of enabling, through electromagnetic induction, the stylus toactively transmit a signal, having good performances for a long time.The capacitive stylus implements an electric field output by pre-loadinga voltage by a pen point, and calculates, according to an electric fieldduring a reception period of a sensing end, a touch position of the penpoint which is above a touch panel. A greatest advantage of thecapacitive stylus is including no independent induction plate, butsensing the finger and an active stylus by using an existing touchpanel, and therefore has an advantage in cost. However, the finger andthe active stylus share two sets of sensing electrodes, so thatefficiencies for sensing the finger and the active stylus cannot beimproved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a touch apparatus having a goodefficiency.

The touch apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality offirst sensing electrodes, a plurality of second sensing electrodes, anda plurality of third sensing electrodes. The first sensing electrodesextend along a first direction. The second sensing electrodes areelectrically isolated from the first sensing electrodes, and extendalong a second direction different from the first direction. Theplurality of third sensing electrodes are electrically isolated from thesecond sensing electrodes, and extend along the first direction. Atleast some of the first sensing electrodes, at least some of the secondsensing electrodes, and at least some of the third sensing electrodesare formed at different film layers respectively.

Based on the above, the touch apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, efficiency for sensing a finger and/or a styluscan be improved by using the third sensing electrodes outside the firstsensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes.

In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of thepresent invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied withfigures are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a touch apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a signal on a first sensing electrodeand a signal on a second sensing electrode according to a comparativeembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a signal on a first sensing electrode,a signal on a second sensing electrode, and a signal on a third sensingelectrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a signal on a first sensing electrode,a signal on a second sensing electrode, and a signal on a third sensingelectrode according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows signals on a first sensing electrode and on a secondsensing electrode of a touch apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensingelectrode according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensingelectrode according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensingelectrode according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensingelectrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensingelectrode according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Herein, examples of exemplary embodiments are described in the figureswith reference to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention indetail. As possible, same component symbols in the figures and thedescription are used to represent the same or similar parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a touch apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1. A touchapparatus 100 includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes 110extending along a first direction x, a plurality of second sensingelectrodes 120 extending along a second direction y, and a plurality ofthird sensing electrodes 130 extending along the first direction x. Thefirst sensing electrodes 110 and the second sensing electrodes 120 areelectrically isolated. The third sensing electrodes 130 and the secondsensing electrodes 120 are electrically isolated. At least some of thefirst sensing electrodes 110, at least some of the second sensingelectrodes 120, and at least some of the third sensing electrodes 130are formed at different film layers respectively.

Please refer to FIG. 1. The touch apparatus 100 further includes acontrol unit 140. The first sensing electrodes 110, the second sensingelectrodes 120, and the third sensing electrodes 130 are electricallyconnected to the control unit 140. In the present embodiment, the touchapparatus 100 further includes a plurality of first cables 112, aplurality of second cables 122, and a plurality of third cables 132. Thefirst sensing electrodes 110 may be electrically connected to thecontrol unit 140 through the first cables 112. The second sensingelectrodes 120 may be electrically connected to the control unit 140through the second cables 122. The third sensing electrodes 130 may beelectrically connected to the control unit 140 through the third cables132. The control unit 140, for example, is an integrated circuit(integrated circuit, IC) including a plurality of pins, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, theplurality of first cables 112, the plurality of second cables 122, andthe plurality of third cables 132 may be separated from each other andbe connected to the plurality of pins of the control unit 140respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Inanother embodiment, each of third cables 132 and a corresponding firstcable 112 may also be connected together before extending to the controlunit 140, so that the control unit 140 needs not to add quantity of thepins because the third sensing electrodes 130 are provided.

The touch apparatus 100 may determine a touch position of a finger of auser according to signals on the first sensing electrodes 110 and thesecond sensing electrodes 120. The touch apparatus 100 may alsodetermine a touch position of a stylus according to signals on thesecond sensing electrodes 120 and the third sensing electrodes 130. Itshould be noted that, because configurations of the third sensingelectrodes 130, the efficiency of the touch apparatus 100 for sensingthe finger and/or the stylus can be improved, being described inexamples below by using FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3.

A touch apparatus in the comparative embodiment includes the firstsensing electrodes 110 and the second sensing electrodes 120 of thetouch apparatus 100, but does not include the third sensing electrodes130 of the touch apparatus 100. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of asignal S₁₁₀ on a first sensing electrode 110 and a signal S₁₂₀ on asecond sensing electrode 120 of the touch apparatus according to acomparative embodiment. Please refer to FIG. 2. The touch apparatusaccording to the comparative embodiment senses the finger and the styluswithin a frame time T, where the stylus may send a signal. The frametime T includes a first subframe time T1, a second subframe time T2successive to the first subframe time T1, and a third subframe time T3successive to the second subframe time T2. A control unit of the touchapparatus according to the comparative embodiment respectively reads, atthe first subframe time T1 and the second subframe time T2, the signalS₁₁₀ on the first sensing electrode 110 and the signal S₁₂₀₋₁ on thesecond sensing electrode 120, so as to determine a touch position of astylus. Within the third subframe time T3, the control unit of the touchapparatus according to the comparative embodiment drives the pluralityof first sensing electrodes 110 (i.e., the control unit inputs thesignal Silo to the first sensing electrodes 110) and reads the signalS₁₂₀ on the second sensing electrode 120, so as to determine a touchposition of a finger. In the comparative embodiment, a processing timeof the stylus is, for example, 3.6 ms, a processing time of the fingeris, for example, 3.9 ms, a frame time for sensing the finger and thestylus for one time is, for example, 7.5 ms, and a report rate is, forexample, 133 Hz.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a signal S₁₁₀₋₁ on a first sensingelectrode 110, a signal S₁₂₀₋₁ on a second sensing electrode 120, and asignal S₁₃₀₋₁ on a third sensing electrode 130 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.The touch apparatus 100 senses the finger and the stylus within theframe time T, where the stylus may send a signal. The frame time Tincludes a first subframe time T1, and a second subframe time T2successive to the first subframe time T1. Within the first subframe timeT1, the control unit 140 reads the signal S₁₂₀₋₁ on the second sensingelectrode 120 and the signal S₁₃₀₋₁ on the third sensing electrode 130at the same time, so as to determine the touch position of the stylus.Within the second subframe time T2, the control unit 140 drives theplurality of first sensing electrodes 110 (i.e., the control unit 140inputs the signal S₁₁₀₋₁ to the first sensing electrodes 110) and readsthe signal S₁₂₀₋₁ on the second sensing electrode 120, so as todetermine the touch position of the finger. It should be noted thatbecause of the configuration of the third sensing electrode 130, whenthe touch apparatus 100 sense the stylus, the control unit 140 needs notto respectively read the signals on two sets of sensing electrodes atdifferent periods of time (for example, the first subframe time T1 andthe second subframe time T2 in FIG. 2), but may read the signal S₁₂₀₋₁on the second sensing electrode 120 and the signal S₁₃₀₋₁ on the thirdsensing electrode 130 at the same time. In this way, the processing timeof the stylus may be shortened, thereby improving the efficiency of thetouch apparatus 100 for sensing the finger and/or the stylus. Forexample, compared with the touch apparatus according to the comparativeembodiment, in the present embodiment, the processing time of the stylusmay be shortened to 2.3 ms, the frame time for sensing the finger andthe stylus for one time may be shortened from 7.5 ms to 6.2 ms, and thereport rate may substantially be improved from 133 Hz to 160 Hz, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a signal S₁₁₀₋₂ on a first sensingelectrode 110, a signal S₁₂₀₋₂ on a second sensing electrode 120, and asignal S₁₃₀₋₂ on a third sensing electrode 130 according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4.The touch apparatus 100 senses the finger and the stylus within theframe time T, where the stylus may send a signal. The frame time Tincludes a first subframe time T1, and a second subframe time T2successive to the first subframe time T1. Within the first subframe timeT1, the control unit 140 reads the signal S₁₂₀₋₂ on the second sensingelectrode 120 and the signal S₁₃₀₋₂ on the third sensing electrode 130at the same time, so as to determine the touch position of the stylus.Particularly, within the first subframe time T1 and the second subframetime T2, the control unit 140 drives the first sensing electrode 110(i.e., the control unit 140 inputs the signal S₁₁₀₋₂ to the firstsensing electrodes 110) and reads the signal S₁₂₀₋₂ on the secondsensing electrode 120, so as to determine the touch position of thefinger. It should be noted that because of the configuration of thethird sensing electrode 130, the touch apparatus 100 may perform, withina period of time of sensing the finger, a part of an action of sensingthe stylus. In this way, the report rate may be shortened, therebyimproving the efficiency of the touch apparatus 100 for sensing thefinger and/or the stylus. For example, in the present embodiment, theframe time for sensing the finger and the stylus for one time may beshortened from 7.5 ms to 3.9 ms, and the report rate may substantiallybe improved from 133 Hz to 260 Hz, but the present invention is notlimited thereto.

The third sensing electrode 130 is configured to sense a touch positionof the third sensing electrode 130, and is also configured to sense anorientation of the stylus. The orientation of the stylus includes adistance from the stylus suspended outside the touch apparatus 100 to atouch surface of the touch apparatus 100, and may include a freemovement, rotation, and incline within the orientation of the stylus ina three-dimensional space such as a degree of inclination of the stylus.The degree of inclination of the stylus refers to a size of an includedangle between the touch surface of the touch apparatus (for example: anupper surface of a protection element 150 or an upper surface of asecond substrate 220 of a display module LCM in the subsequentparagraphs) and a length direction of the stylus. How to sense thedistance from the stylus suspended outside the touch apparatus 100 tothe touch surface of the touch apparatus 100 and the degree ofinclination of the stylus is described below in examples with referenceto FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows signals on a first sensing electrode and on a secondsensing electrode of a touch apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5. As shown in thesecond line of FIG. 5, when the stylus is suspended outside the touchapparatus 100 (i.e., the stylus does not touch the touch surface), adistance from the stylus to the third sensing electrode 130 is far, acapacitance between the stylus and the third sensing electrode 130 issmall, and the signal on the third sensing electrode 130 is small. Asshown in the third line of FIG. 5, when the stylus touches the touchsurface of the touch apparatus 100, the distance from the stylus to thethird sensing electrode 130 is close, the capacitance between the stylusand the third sensing electrode 130 is large, and the signal on thethird sensing electrode 130 is great. According to a size of the signalon the third sensing electrode 130, it may be determined that whetherthe stylus is suspended outside the touch apparatus 100. For example,when the stylus touches the touch surface of the touch apparatus 100,the signal on the third sensing electrode 130 is a standard signal; andif the signal on the third sensing electrode 130 is smaller than thestandard signal, it may be determined that whether the stylus issuspended outside the touch apparatus 100. Further, according to adifference between the signal on the third sensing electrode 130 and thestandard signal, the distance from the stylus suspended outside thetouch apparatus 100 to the touch surface of the touch apparatus 100 mayfurther be determined.

In addition, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5. As shown in the thirdline of FIG. 5, the control unit 140 may read the signal on the firstsensing electrode 110 (i.e., the first sensing electrode 110 receives asignal sent by the stylus) and the signal on the third sensing electrode130 (the third sensing electrode 130 receives the signal sent by thestylus) at the same time, so as to obtain a first signal difference. Asshown in the fourth line of FIG. 5, at a second time point differentfrom a first time point, the control unit 140 may read the signal on thefirst sensing electrode 110 and the signal on the third sensingelectrode 130 at the same time, so as to obtain a second signaldifference. The control unit 140 compares the first signal differenceand the second signal difference, so as to determine the degree ofinclination of the stylus. For example, as shown in the third line ofFIG. 5, the degree of inclination of the stylus is low (for example:being nearly not inclined). At this time, a difference between thesignal on the first sensing electrode 110 and the signal on the thirdsensing electrode 130 is the first signal difference. As shown in thefourth line of FIG. 5, the difference between the signal on the firstsensing electrode 110 and the signal on the third sensing electrode 130is the second signal difference. If the second signal difference issmaller than the first signal difference, the inclination of the stylusmay be determined. Further, in a case in which the second signaldifference is smaller than the first signal difference, the smallersecond signal difference indicates a greater degree of inclination ofthe stylus.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIG. 1 and FIG. 6. In the present embodiment, the first sensingelectrode 110 may be a transmission electrode (Transmission; Tx), andthe second sensing electrode 120 may be a reception electrode(Reception; Rx). The third sensing electrode 130, the second sensingelectrode 120, and the first sensing electrode 110 may be selectivelyand sequentially arranged along a line-of-sight direction z, where theline-of-sight direction z is vertical to an extension direction of thefirst sensing electrode 110 (i.e., the first direction x) and anextension direction of the second sensing electrode 120 (i.e., thesecond direction y). However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. Both the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensingelectrode 120 may sense the finger, and the second sensing electrode 120and the third sensing electrode 130 may sense the stylus. In otherembodiments, the first sensing electrode 110, the second sensingelectrode 120, and the third sensing electrode 130 may also be arrangein another appropriate sequence.

Please refer to FIG. 6. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100 includes the first sensing electrode 110, the second sensingelectrode 120, and the third sensing electrode 130, and may furtherinclude the protection element (cover lens) 150, an adhesive layer 160,and a first substrate 170. The first substrate 170 is, for example, aglass substrate, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Thefirst sensing electrode 110 and the second sensing electrode 120 may beformed at an upper surface and a lower surface of the first substrate170 respectively, so as to form a stack structure S1. The third sensingelectrode 130 may be formed at a lower surface of the protection element150, so as to form a stack structure S2. The stack structure S1 and thestack structure S2 may be connected together by using the adhesive layer160. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus 100 may furtherinclude an adhesive layer 180 and the display module LCM. The stackstructure S1 and the stack structure S2 may be attached on the displaymodule LCM by using the adhesive layer 180, so that the touch apparatus100 further has a display function. In the present embodiment, theprotection element 150, the third sensing electrode 130, the adhesivelayer 160, the second sensing electrode 120, the first substrate 170,the first sensing electrode 110, the adhesive layer 180 and the displaymodule LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sightdirection z.

It should be noted that manners for configuring the first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130 in the touch apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 6 is merely fordescribing the present invention in examples, but is not intended tolimit the present invention. In other embodiments, the first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130 may also be stacked in other manners, so as to form aplurality of different types of touch apparatuses. The plurality ofdifferent types of touch apparatuses also fall within the protectionscope of the present invention. This is described in examples below withreference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 16.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. Please referto FIG. 7. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus 100A includesthe first sensing electrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, andthe third sensing electrode 130, and further includes the protectionelement 150, the adhesive layer 160, an insulation layer 190, and thefirst substrate 170. The first sensing electrode 110 is formed at thelower surface of the first substrate 170. The second sensing electrode120 is formed at the upper surface of the first substrate 170. Theinsulation layer 190 is formed at the upper surface of the firstsubstrate 170, so as to cover the second sensing electrode 120. Thethird sensing electrode 130 is formed on the insulation layer 190, so asto be electrically isolated from the second sensing electrode 120. Thefirst sensing electrode 110, the first substrate 170, the second sensingelectrode 120, the insulation layer 190, and the third sensing electrode130 form a stack structure S3. The stack structure S3 may be connectedto the protection element 150 by using the adhesive layer 160. In thepresent embodiment, the touch apparatus 100A may further include theadhesive layer 180 and the display module LCM. The protection element150, the adhesive layer 160, and the stack structure S3 may be attachedon the display module LCM by using the adhesive layer 180, so that thetouch apparatus 100A further has a display function. In the presentembodiment, the protection element 150, the adhesive layer 160, thethird sensing electrode 130, the insulation layer 190, the secondsensing electrode 120, the first substrate 170, the first sensingelectrode 110, the adhesive layer 180 and the display module LCM may besequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention. Pleaserefer to FIG. 8. In the present embodiment, a touch apparatus 100Bincludes the first sensing electrode 110, the second sensing electrode120, and the third sensing electrode 130, and further includes theprotection element 150, an insulation layer 191, and an insulation layer192. The third sensing electrode 130 is formed at the lower surface ofthe protection element 150. The insulation layer 191 covers the thirdsensing electrode 130. The second sensing electrode 120 is formed on theinsulation layer 191. The insulation layer 192 covers the second sensingelectrode 120. The first sensing electrode 110 is formed on theinsulation layer 192. The protection element 150, the third sensingelectrode 130, the insulation layer 191, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer 192, and the first sensing electrode 110 forma stack structure S4. In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus100B may further include the adhesive layer 180 and the display moduleLCM. The stack structure S4 may be attached on the display module LCM byusing the adhesive layer 180, so that the touch apparatus 100 furtherhas a display function. In the present embodiment, the protectionelement 150, the third sensing electrode 130, the insulation layer 191,the second sensing electrode 120, the insulation layer 192, the firstsensing electrode 110, the adhesive layer 180 and the display module LCMmay be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In thepresent embodiment, a touch apparatus 100C includes the first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130, and further includes the protection element 150, theinsulation layer 191, an adhesive layer 162, and a film 172. The thirdsensing electrode 130 is formed at the lower surface of the protectionelement 150. The insulation layer 191 covers the third sensing electrode130. The second sensing electrode 120 is formed on the insulation layer191. The protection element 150, the third sensing electrode 130, theinsulation layer 191, and the second sensing electrode 120 form a stackstructure S5. The first sensing electrode 110 is formed at an uppersurface of the film 172. The first sensing electrode 110 and the film172 form a stack structure S6. The stack structure S5 is attached on thestack structure S6 by using the adhesive layer 162. In the presentembodiment, the touch apparatus 100C may further include the adhesivelayer 180 and the display module LCM. The stack structure S5 and thestack structure S6 are attached on the display module LCM by using theadhesive layer 180, so that the touch apparatus 100C further has adisplay function. In the present embodiment, the protection element 150,the third sensing electrode 130, the insulation layer 191, the secondsensing electrode 120, the adhesive layer 162, the first sensingelectrode 110, the film 172, the adhesive layer 180 and the displaymodule LCM may be sequentially arranged along the line-of-sightdirection z.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. In the presentembodiment, a touch apparatus 100D includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element 150, an adhesive layer163, the film 172, an adhesive layer 164, and a film 174. The thirdsensing electrode 130 is formed at an upper surface of the film 172. Thesecond sensing electrode 120 is formed at a lower surface of the film172. The third sensing electrode 130, the film 172, and the secondsensing electrode 120 form a stack structure S7. The stack structure S7is attached at the lower surface of the protection element 150 by usingthe adhesive layer 163. The first sensing electrode 110 is formed at anupper surface of the other film 174. The first sensing electrode 110 andthe film 174 form a stack structure S8. The stack structure S7 isattached on the stack structure S8 by using the adhesive layer 164. Inthe present embodiment, the touch apparatus 100D may further include theadhesive layer 180 and the display module LCM. The protection element150, the stack structure S7, and the stack structure S8 are attached onthe display module LCM by using the adhesive layer 180, so that thetouch apparatus 100D further has a display function. In the presentembodiment, the protection element 150, the adhesive layer 163, thethird sensing electrode 130, the film 172, the second sensing electrode120, the adhesive layer 164, the first sensing electrode 110, the film174, the adhesive layer 180 and the display module LCM may besequentially arranged along the line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. In the presentembodiment, a touch apparatus 100E includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the protection element 150, the adhesive layer163, the insulation layer 191, and the film 172. The first sensingelectrode 110 is formed at the lower surface of the film 172. The secondsensing electrode 120 is formed at the upper surface of the film 172.The insulation layer 191 covers the second sensing electrode 120. Thethird sensing electrode 130 is formed on the insulation layer 191. Thefirst sensing electrode 110, the film 172, the second sensing electrode120, the insulation layer 191, and the third sensing electrode 130 forma stack structure S9. The stack structure S9 is attached at the lowersurface of the protection element 150 by using the adhesive layer 163.In the present embodiment, the touch apparatus 100E may further includethe adhesive layer 180 and the display module LCM. The protectionelement 150 and the stack structure S9 are attached on the displaymodule LCM by using the adhesive layer 180, so that the touch apparatus100E further has a display function. In the present embodiment, theprotection element 150, the adhesive layer 163, the third sensingelectrode 130, the insulation layer 191, the second sensing electrode120, the film 172, the first sensing electrode 110, the adhesive layer180 and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along theline-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention. In thepresent embodiment, a touch apparatus 100F includes the first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130, and further includes the protection element 150, theadhesive layer 163, the insulation layer 191, the insulation layer 192,and the film 172. The first sensing electrode 110 is formed at the uppersurface of the film 172. The insulation layer 192 covers the firstsensing electrode 110. The second sensing electrode 120 is formed on theinsulation layer 192. The insulation layer 191 covers the second sensingelectrode 120. The third sensing electrode 130 is formed on theinsulation layer 191. The film 172, the first sensing electrode 110, theinsulation layer 192, the second sensing electrode 120, the insulationlayer 191, and the third sensing electrode 130 form a stack structureS10. The stack structure S10 is attached at the lower surface of theprotection element 150 by using the adhesive layer 163. In the presentembodiment, the touch apparatus 100F may further include the adhesivelayer 180 and the display module LCM. The protection element 150 and thestack structure S10 are attached on the display module LCM by using theadhesive layer 180, so that the touch apparatus 100F further has adisplay function. In the present embodiment, the protection element 150,the adhesive layer 163, the third sensing electrode 130, the insulationlayer 191, the second sensing electrode 120, the insulation layer 192,the first sensing electrode 110, the film 172, the adhesive layer 180and the display module LCM may be sequentially arranged along theline-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In thepresent embodiment, a touch apparatus 100G includes the first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130, and further includes the display module LCM, aninsulation layer 193, and an insulation layer 194. The display moduleLCM includes a first substrate 210, a second substrate 220 opposite tothe first substrate 210, and a display medium 230 configured between thefirst substrate 210 and the second substrate 220. The first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130 may all be configured on the display module LCM. Indetail, the first sensing electrode 110 is formed at an upper surface ofthe second substrate 220, the insulation layer 193 covers the firstsensing electrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120 is formed on theinsulation layer 193, the insulation layer 193 covers the second sensingelectrode 120, and the third sensing electrode 130 is formed on theinsulation layer 194. The third sensing electrode 130, the insulationlayer 194, the second sensing electrode 120, the insulation layer 193,the first sensing electrode 110, the second substrate 220, the displaymedium 230, and the first substrate 210 are sequentially stacked alongthe line-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. In the presentembodiment, a touch apparatus 100H includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the display module LCM and the insulationlayer 193. The display module LCM includes the first substrate 210, thesecond substrate 220 opposite to the first substrate 210, and thedisplay medium 230 configured between the first substrate 210 and thesecond substrate 220. Parts of the first sensing electrode 110, thesecond sensing electrode 120, and the third sensing electrode 130 may beconfigured within the display module LCM. Parts of the first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130 may be configured outside the display module LCM. Forexample, in the present embodiment, the first sensing electrode 110 maybe configured within the display module LCM, that is, located betweenthe first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220. In detail, thefirst sensing electrode 110 may be configured between the secondsubstrate 220 and the display medium 230 of the display module LCM. Thesecond sensing electrode 120 may be formed at an upper surface of thesecond substrate 220. The insulation layer 193 covers the second sensingelectrode 120. The third sensing electrode 130 is formed on theinsulation layer 193. In the present embodiment, the third sensingelectrode 130, the insulation layer 193, the second sensing electrode120, the second substrate 220, the first sensing electrode 110, thedisplay medium 230, and the first substrate 210 may be sequentiallystacked along the line-of-sight direction z. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the firstsensing electrode 110 may also be configured between the display medium230 and the first substrate 210; and the third sensing electrode 130,the insulation layer 193, the second sensing electrode 120, the secondsubstrate 220, the display medium 230, the first sensing electrode 110,and the first substrate 210 may be sequentially stacked along theline-of-sight direction z.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. In the presentembodiment, a touch apparatus 100I includes the first sensing electrode110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensing electrode130, and further includes the display module LCM. The display module LCMincludes the first substrate 210, the second substrate 220 opposite tothe first substrate 210, and the display medium 230 configured betweenthe first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220. In the presentembodiment, the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensingelectrode 120 may be configured within the display module LCM, that is,located between the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220.The third sensing electrode 130 may be configured outside the displaymodule LCM. For example, the first sensing electrode 110 may beconfigured on the first substrate 210 of the display module LCM, andlocated between the display medium 230 and the first substrate 110. Thesecond sensing electrode 120 may be configured on the second substrate220, and located between the second substrate 220 and the display medium230. The third sensing electrode 130 may be configured at the uppersurface of the second substrate 220. In the present embodiment, thethird sensing electrode 130, the second substrate 220, the secondsensing electrode 120, the display medium 230, the first sensingelectrode 110, and the first substrate 210 may be sequentially stackedalong the line-of-sight direction z. However, the present invention isnot limited thereto. In still another embodiment, the third sensingelectrode 130, the second substrate 220, the second sensing electrode120, the first sensing electrode 110, the display medium 230 and thefirst substrate 210 may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sightdirection z; and in yet another embodiment, the third sensing electrode130, the second substrate 220, the display medium 230, the secondsensing electrode 120, the first sensing electrode 110 and the firstsubstrate 210 may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sightdirection z.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a touch apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention. In thepresent embodiment, a touch apparatus 100J includes the first sensingelectrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the third sensingelectrode 130, and further includes the display module LCM and aninsulation layer 195. The display module LCM includes the firstsubstrate 210, the second substrate 220 opposite to the first substrate210, and the display medium 230 configured between the first substrate210 and the second substrate 220. In the present embodiment, the firstsensing electrode 110, the second sensing electrode 120, and the thirdsensing electrode 130 may all be configured within the display moduleLCM. For example, the first sensing electrode 110 may be configured onthe first substrate 210 of the display module LCM; the insulation layer195 covers the first sensing electrode 110; and the second sensingelectrode 120 is formed on the insulation layer 195. The second sensingelectrode 120, the insulation layer 195, and the first sensing electrode110 may be located between the display medium 230 and the firstsubstrate 210. The third sensing electrode 130 may be configured on thesecond substrate 220 of the display module LCM, and located between thesecond substrate 220 and the display medium 230. In the presentembodiment, the second substrate 220, the third sensing electrode 130,the display medium 230, the second sensing electrode 120, the insulationlayer 195, the first sensing electrode 110 and the first substrate 210may be sequentially stacked along the line-of-sight direction z.However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Any one of the foregoing touch apparatuses 100A-100J may sense, by usinga sensing method same to that of the touch apparatus 100, a touchposition of a finger and a touch position of a stylus. In addition, anyone of the foregoing touch apparatuses 100A-100J may also be used tosense a degree of inclination of the stylus, and details are notdescribed herein again.

Please refer to FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, each of the thirdsensing electrodes 130 partially overlaps a corresponding first sensingelectrode 110. In other words, each of the third sensing electrodes 130does not totally cover the corresponding first sensing electrode 110. Inthis way, although the third sensing electrode 130 is closer to a useras compared with the first sensing electrode 110 and the second sensingelectrode 120, configuration of the third sensing electrode 130 alsowould not excessively affect finger-sensing capacities of the firstsensing electrode 110 and the second sensing electrode 120. In thepresent embodiment, the third sensing electrode 130 may be locatedwithin the first sensing electrode 110. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the third sensingelectrode 130 and the first sensing electrode 110 may also be configuredin other appropriate manners; this is described below using FIG. 17 toFIG. 21 as examples.

FIG. 17 shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and third sensingelectrode according to another embodiment of the present invention. Inan embodiment of FIG. 17, the third sensing electrode 130 may alsopartially overlap the first sensing electrode 110 and exceed the firstsensing electrode 110. FIG. 18 shows a corresponding first sensingelectrode and third sensing electrode according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of FIG. 18, thethird sensing electrode 130 may be located beside the first sensingelectrode 110. In other words, the third sensing electrode 130 may bestaggered from the first sensing electrode 110 and does not overlap thesame. FIG. 19 shows a corresponding first sensing electrode and thirdsensing electrode according to yet another embodiment of the presentinvention. In an embodiment of FIG. 19, the first sensing electrode 110has an opening 110 a; and an orthographic projection of a third sensingelectrode 130 corresponding to the first sensing electrode 110 on asurface at which the first sensing electrode 110 is located may belocated within the opening 110 a. FIG. 20 shows a corresponding firstsensing electrode and third sensing electrode according to an embodimentof the present invention. In an embodiment of FIG. 20, the first sensingelectrode 110 has a plurality of openings 110 a; a third sensingelectrode 130 corresponding to the first sensing electrode 110 may havea plurality of branch portions 138; and orthographic projections of theplurality of branch portions 138 on the surface at which the firstsensing electrode 110 is located may be located within the plurality ofopenings 110 a respectively.

In addition, in the embodiments of FIG. 17 to FIG. 20, a shape of thethird sensing electrode 130 uses a stripe as examples, and a shape ofthe first sensing electrode 110 uses a strip-shaped pattern or aplurality of strip-shaped patterns connected with each other asexamples. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Inother embodiments, the third sensing electrode 130 and the first sensingelectrode 110 may also represent other appropriate shapes; this isdescribed below using FIG. 21 as an example. FIG. 21 shows acorresponding first sensing electrode and third sensing electrodeaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. In anembodiment of FIG. 21, the third sensing electrode 130 may include aplurality of rhombic patterns 134 and a plurality of bridge lines 136,where each of bridge lines 136 is connected to adjacent two rhombicpatterns 134, and the opening 110 a of the first sensing electrode 110may have a jagged edge corresponding to the plurality of rhombicpatterns 134. The first sensing electrode 110 and the third sensingelectrode 130 of any one of FIG. 17 to FIG. 21 may be applied to any oneof the foregoing touch apparatus 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E,100F, 100G, 100H, 100I, or 100J.

Based on the above, the touch apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention includes a plurality of first sensing electrodesextending along a first direction, a plurality of second sensingelectrodes extending along a second direction, and a plurality of thirdsensing electrodes extending along the first direction and electricallyisolated from the second sensing electrodes. Efficiency for the touchapparatus to sense a finger and/or a stylus may be improved by using thethird sensing electrodes outside the first sensing electrodes and thesecond sensing electrodes.

Although the present invention discloses the foregoing by using theembodiments, the foregoing is not intended to limit the presentinvention. Any person of ordinary skill in the art may make somevariations and modifications without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the presentinvention should fall within the scope defined by the appended claimsbelow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch apparatus, comprising: a plurality offirst sensing electrodes, extending along a first direction; a pluralityof second sensing electrodes, electrically isolated from the firstsensing electrodes, and extending along a second direction differentfrom the first direction; a plurality of third sensing electrodes,electrically isolated from the second sensing electrodes, and extendingalong the first direction, wherein the first sensing electrodes, thesecond sensing electrodes, and the third sensing electrodes are formedat different plurality of film layers respectively, wherein the thirdsensing electrodes, the second sensing electrodes and the first sensingelectrodes are sequentially arranged along a line-of-sight directionvertical to the first direction and the second direction; and a controlunit, electrically connected to the first sensing electrodes, the secondsensing electrodes, and the third sensing electrodes, wherein thecontrol unit determines a touch position of a finger according tosignals on the first sensing electrodes and the second sensingelectrodes, and determines a touch position of a stylus according tosignals on the second sensing electrodes and the third sensingelectrodes, wherein the control unit reads the signals on the firstsensing electrodes and signals on the third sensing electrodes at thesame time, so as to obtain a first signal difference; the control unitreads the signals on the first sensing electrodes and the signals on thethird sensing electrodes at the same time, so as to obtain a secondsignal difference; and the control unit compares the first signaldifference and the second signal difference, so as to determine anorientation of a stylus.
 2. The touch apparatus according to claim 1,wherein within a first subframe time, the control unit reads the signalson the second sensing electrodes and the third sensing electrodes at thesame time, so as to determine the touch position of the stylus; andwithin a second subframe time successive to the first subframe time, thecontrol unit drives the first sensing electrodes and reads signals onthe second sensing electrodes, so as to determine the touch position ofthe finger.
 3. The touch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein withina first subframe time, the control unit respectively reads signals onthe second sensing electrodes and signals on the third sensingelectrodes, and determines the touch position of the stylus according tothe signals on the second sensing electrodes and the signals on thethird sensing electrodes which are read within the first subframe time;and within the first subframe time and a second subframe time successiveto the first subframe time, the control unit drives the first sensingelectrodes and reads the signals on the second sensing electrodes, so asto determine the touch position of the finger.
 4. The touch apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a protection element; anadhesive layer; and a first substrate, wherein the protection element,the third sensing electrodes, the adhesive layer, the second sensingelectrodes, the first substrate and the first sensing electrodes aresequentially arranged along a line-of-sight direction.
 5. The touchapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a protectionelement; an adhesive layer; an insulation layer; and a first substrate,wherein the protection element, the adhesive layer, the third sensingelectrodes, the insulation layer, the second sensing electrodes, thefirst substrate and the first sensing electrodes are sequentiallystacked along a line-of-sight direction.
 6. The touch apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a protection element; and aninsulation layer, wherein the protection element, the third sensingelectrodes, the insulation layer, the second sensing electrodes and thefirst sensing electrodes are sequentially stacked along a line-of-sightdirection.
 7. The touch apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a protection element; an insulation layer; an adhesivelayer; and a film, wherein the protection element, the third sensingelectrodes, the insulation layer, the second sensing electrodes, theadhesive layer, the first sensing electrodes and the film aresequentially stacked along a line-of-sight direction.
 8. The touchapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a protectionelement; a first adhesive layer; a first film; a second adhesive layer;and a second film, wherein the protection element, the first adhesivelayer, the third sensing electrodes, the first film, the second sensingelectrodes, the second adhesive layer, the first sensing electrodes andthe second film are sequentially stacked along a line-of-sightdirection.
 9. The touch apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a protection element; an adhesive layer; an insulationlayer; and a film, wherein the protection element, the adhesive layer,the third sensing electrodes, the insulation layer, the second sensingelectrodes, the film and the first sensing electrodes are sequentiallystacked along a line-of-sight direction.
 10. The touch apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a protection element; anadhesive layer; and a film, wherein the protection element, the adhesivelayer, the third sensing electrodes, the second sensing electrodes, thefirst sensing electrodes and the film are sequentially stacked along aline-of-sight direction.
 11. The touch apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate, opposite tothe first substrate; and a display medium, configured between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate, wherein the third sensingelectrodes, the second sensing electrodes, the first sensing electrodes,the second substrate, the display medium and the first substrate aresequentially stacked along a line-of-sight direction.
 12. The touchapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first substrate; asecond substrate, opposite to the first substrate; and a display medium,configured between the first substrate and the second substrate, whereinthe third sensing electrodes, the second sensing electrodes, the secondsubstrate, the display medium and the first substrate are sequentiallystacked along a line-of-sight direction, and the first sensingelectrodes are located between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate.
 13. The touch apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a first substrate; a second substrate, opposite to the firstsubstrate; and a display medium, configured between the first substrateand the second substrate, wherein the third sensing electrodes, thesecond substrate, the second sensing electrodes, the first sensingelectrodes and the first substrate are sequentially stacked along aline-of-sight direction.
 14. The touch apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate, opposite tothe first substrate; and a display medium, configured between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate, wherein the second substrate, thedisplay medium and the first substrate are sequentially stacked along aline-of-sight direction, and the first sensing electrodes, the secondsensing electrodes, and the third sensing electrodes are located betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate.
 15. The touch apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the third sensing electrodespartially overlaps a corresponding first sensing electrode.
 16. Thetouch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the third sensingelectrodes is staggered from a corresponding first sensing electrode anddoes not overlap the corresponding first sensing electrode.